GIRLS' SOCCER: Waynesboro Maidens notch another winning season

The Waynesboro Maidens soccer team missed out on an encore performance in the postseason but still turned in a successful season.

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By Lee Goodwin

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Nov. 9, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Nov. 9, 2013 at 9:00 AM

WAYNESBORO — The Waynesboro Maidens soccer team missed out on an encore performance in the postseason but still turned in a successful season.

It’s a contradiction of sorts, finishing 12-6 but falling short of the District 3-AAA tournament.

“Coming into the season we had high expectations,” said Waynesboro coach Brian Fisher. “We knew we had a target on our back as a result of our 14-5 record the previous year. I personally felt we could compete and have the opportunity to win every contest.”

As the season started, performance was in line with expectations as the Maidens won the first two games against Big Spring (5-0) and Gettysburg (3-0). A 2-0 loss to eventual Mid-Penn Colonial Division champion Greencastle-Antrim was followed by a 5-1 win over Boiling Springs, but two more losses left Waynesboro at 3-3.

“The loss of center back Sam Nichols early inthe season made it more challenging for us,” Fisher said. “Losing center midfielder Juli Smith for several games also hurt us.”

Fisher was forced to adjust his hand, experimenting with players at different positions.Cat Weber and Liv Bailey helped fill the void left by Nichols’ absence. But losing Bailey’s presence at midfield also hurt, Fisher said.

“Ultimately, we were inconsistent this season,” Fisher said. “Some games, we were brilliants, and some games we lacked passion and finishing ability.

“Individually, I thought we were strong throughout the season, but we never maximized our potential collectively as a team.”

Waynesboro improved to 9-3 in the division this season (the Maidens were 8-4 in 2012) and finished behind G-A in the standings. Waynesboro outscored opponents this season 47-18 and posted nine shutouts with Taylor Welty in goal. Also, 12 different players scored goals for Waynesboro and 11 different players had assists.

Patterson and Monica Beck each scored eight goals to lead the Maidens. Kennedy Chandler finished with seven goals, followed by Jade Swope (six), Katie Clawson (five) and Morgan French (four). Clawson was the team’s leader in assists with 11, while Patterson had eight assists and Beck had five assists. Chandler and Smith each had four assists.

Welty made 59 saves.

Waynesboro caught fire after its .500 record six games in to the season. The Maidens won the next six games, including five straight shutouts. A 2-1 win over Spring Grove was followed by a two-game losing streak. But three straight wins left the Maidens on the bubble in the district power rating, and a 2-1 loss in the final game of the regular season dropped Waynesboro out of the top 20 and out of the postseason.

Page 2 of 2 - “These girls have accomplished a lot in 15 months,” Fisher said. “I am proud of each and every one of them, and they should be commended for their work. The girls have laid the strong foundation and have turned a struggling program into a perennially strong program.”